These are smocked socks that feature a repeating ‘O’ motif that undulates in size. ”O me miserum” is Latin for ‘O wretched me’ — a good phrase to know if you ever need to sound like a posh person unironically complaining about first-world problems. These socks are knit cuff-down and have a cuff-down version of a Fleegle Heel (no picking up stitches!) and a wedge toe with a wider toe band for a better anatomical fit.

The pattern contains technique illustrations, a ‘how to’ for working this pattern off gauge, both charts and written instructions, handy tips and tricks, and there’s even a little something in there for medieval marginalia connoisseurs! There’s a colourful version, a black and white version for printing, and also a print disability and screen reader friendly version. This pattern has been tested and tech edited, as well as being checked by an accessibility editor.

Sizing
Sizes 1, (2, 3) (4, 5)
Finished measurements: 13 (15, 16.5) (18.5, 20.5)cm or 5¼ (6, 6¾) (7½, 8¼)” foot circumference.
To fit: 17.5 (20, 22) (24.5, 27)cm or 7, (8, 9) (10, 10¾)” foot circumference.
The sample is size 3

Techniques and Difficulty
Short rows, smock stitch, increasing and decreasing, grafting, reading your knitting. I think this is very doable for anyone who’s knit a pair of socks before.

Yarn
300–500m or 330-550 yards of 4ply/fingering weight sock yarn. The sample was knit in a 4ply/fingering weight handspun yarn.

Gauge
36 stitches x 50 rounds = 10cm or 4” in stockinette stitch after blocking. This should form a dense fabric to make more durable socks.
54 stitches x 48 rounds = 10cm or 4” in Smock Stitch Pattern, unstretched, after blocking. Measuring gauge with ribbing can be quite finicky, and depends a lot on how tightly you work the smocking. If you’re having trouble meeting gauge for the Smock Stitch Pattern, work based off the stockinette gauge.

Needles
2mm (US 0) needles in your favourite sock knitting needle configuration, or size needed to get gauge.

Accessibility Statement
This pattern has a print disability and screen reader friendly version. That version has 24pt Verdana font, no italics are used, with both written instructions and charts. For the print disability and screen reader friendly version and the black and white version, the charts are black symbols on a white backround. There is a red, dashed line to denote repeats. All information in the charts is conveyed in the written instructions, so the pattern can be made without reference to charts. The pattern contains images; all of which have alt text and captions. Abbreviations and symbols have been removed from the pattern. This pattern has been checked by an accessibility editor. Due to my own disability, I am not able to test this pattern with a screen reader, if you use a screen reader with this pattern I’d love to hear how it goes.